Perform finds new rhythm with Tempo Café

When a great vibe and melody are paired with food, there's no telling where the flavours will take you. Tempo Café, the refreshed eatery formerly known as Perform, aims to strike a new chord in St Andrew's dining scene.

“We have a deep passion for cuisine and culture, and saw an opportunity to combine our individual strengths to create something meaningful together. That was the core inspiration behind the venture: to build something that felt like an extension of ourselves, with good food, good energy, and creative expression existing in one space,” Brandon Simpson told Food of the partnership with co-owner, Brent Blair.

Some of the signature offerings on the menu include the Tempo bowl, a meal consisting of vegetables, sweet potato or noodles, with your choice of chicken, shrimp, cauliflower or mushrooms. The café also serves a wide array of wings and sandwiches, as well as a range of flavour-packed sides.

“Foodies love how balanced our menu is. Our smoothies, coffee and house drinks are also becoming increasingly popular. We aim to keep it bold but accessible,” Simpson said.

As to the new name. “Tempo speaks to the flow of the space, the vibe we're building, and how we approach food and community. Like music, food has a tempo. It can be comforting, uplifting, bold, or subtle. Our café is built around that idea, creating food and moments that move people,” Blair shared.

FORMERLY PERFORM NATURAL JUICE BAR

The space was originally launched as Perform natural juice bar during the latter part of last year. But this refreshed concept was introduced in April of this year, and the eatery rebranded as Tempo Café.

The response, the duo highlighted, has been overwhelmingly positive. “The community has truly embraced us. And the level of engagement and support we receive from our family, friends and strangers has been incredibly encouraging,” Simpson affirmed.

The co-owner went on further to note that people don't just eat for nourishment.

“Tempo is about more than what's on the plate. It's about how you feel while you're here. We wanted people to enjoy food that's thoughtfully made, and we hope they feel like they're part of something. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or staying for an event, it should feel like time well spent,” Blair added.

With the challenge of finding the right team presenting itself from early, they were able to pull together committed individuals who shared the passion and understood the vision.

Currently, the restaurant has expanded its operations to host karaoke nights, game nights, and themed pop-ups that bring people together.

“It's all about creating space for community and connection. We also collaborate with creatives and small brands for special events, and we're exploring ideas like live acoustic sessions or food and art pop-ups. The goal is to make Tempo more than just a café,” Simpson explained.

At the moment, the camp is focused on refining its operations, building a strong team, and growing the menu. “Short term, we want to continue improving our space and exploring new ways to connect with our customers, potentially through live music, film screenings and other intimate sessions.”

Long term, the hope is to have loyalty programmes, create more in-house juices and drinks, expand into new locations, experiment with product lines, and deepen the impact within the local food and creative scene.

Tempo Café is located on Herb McKenley Drive.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com